The Burgomaster's Wife — Complete eBook

CHAPTER XXX.

Just before sunrise Georg sprang from his couch, drew
out his knapsack, and filled it with his few possessions;
but this time the little book found no place with
the other articles.

The musician Wilhelm also entered the court-yard at
a very early-hour, just as the first workmen were
going to the shops. The Junker saw him coming,
and met him at the door.

The artist’s face revealed few traces of the
want he had endured, but his whole frame was trembling
with excitement and his face changed color every moment,
as he instantly, and in the utmost haste, told Georg
the purpose of his early visit.

Shortly after the arrival of the city messengers,
a Spanish envoy had brought Burgomaster Van der Werff
a letter written by Junker Nicolas Matanesse, containing
nothing but the tidings, that Henrica’s sister
had reached Leyderdorp with Belotti and found shelter
in the elder Baron Matanesse’s farm-house.
She was very ill, and longed to see her sister.
The burgomaster had given this letter to the young
lady, and Henrica hastened to the musician without
delay, to entreat him to help her escape from the
city and guide her to the Spanish lines. Wilhelm
was undergoing a severe struggle. No sacrifice
seemed too great to see Anna again, and what the messenger
had accomplished, he too might succeed in doing.
But ought he to aid the flight of the young girl detained
as hostage by the council, deceive the sentinels at
the gate, desert his post?

Since Henrica’s request that Georg would escort
her sister from Lugano to Holland, the young man had
known everything that concerned the latter, and was
also aware of the state of the musician’s heart.

“I must, and yet I ought not,” cried Wilhelm.
“I have passed a terrible night; imagine yourself
in my place, in the young lady’s.”

“Get a leave of absence until to-morrow,”
said Georg resolutely. “When it grows dark,
I’ll accompany Henrica with you. She must
swear to return to the city in case of a surrender.
As for me, I am no longer bound by any oath to serve
the English flag. A month ago we received permission
to enter the service of the Netherlands. It will
only cost me a word with Captain Van der Laen, to
be my own master.”

“Thanks, thanks; but the young lady forbade
me to ask your assistance.”

“Folly, I shall go with you, and when our goal
is reached, fight my way through to the Beggars.
Our departure will not trouble the council, for, when
Henrica and I are outside, there will be two eaters
less in Leyden. The sky is grey; I hope we shall
have a dark night. Captain Van Duivenvoorde commands
the guard at the Hohenort Gate. He knows us both,
and will let us pass. I’ll speak to him.
Is the farm-house far inside the village?”